4.V 



CHURCH PLAY 

The 

Conquest of a Continent 

A Dramatization of the Sixteenth 
Chapter of Acts 



By W. A. FITE 

Pastor of Ivanhoe Park Christian Church 

Kansas City, Mo. 



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Copyrighted 
All Righu Reserved 



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/\ ^ The Conquest of a Continent 



By W. A. FITE 



ACT I — Puzzled Missionaries 

Time — A. D. 52. Paul's second Missionary Journey. Morning 
Place — Troas. Paul's room at tavern 



PROLOGUE: Acts 16:6-10 

(To be spoken before curtain) 

(Paul lies on cot. Silas sits at table reading- sci'oll.) 

Silas — Is not Son Timothy coming to-night? 

Paid — It is now time he was here. 
(Timothy enters.) 

Timothy — Is Paul sleeping? 

Paul — No. Just resting. 

Timothy — How do you feel now? 

Paul (rising) — Much better. 

Timothy — What plans, beloved leader? 

Paid — Son in the Gospel, you unduly honor me 
by calling me "leader," for in this great mis- 
sionary enterprise in which we are engaged, the 
real leader is the Holy Spirit. One is our Mas- 
ter and all we are brethren; and we seek his 
guidance in every place we go, in all we do, in 
all we say. And thus I have no plans of my 
own. I have been waiting for the plans from 
on high. You well know our own plans have 
been frusti'ated again and again by our divine 
Guide. After leaving Antioch, in Pisidia, we 
thought of visiting the great and populous cities 
on the Mediterranean coast of Asia. There 
were Ephesus, Smyrna, Sardis, and in all seven 
great cities which seemed to us a waiting har- 
vest for the Gospel. 

Silas — But we were forbidden by the Holy Spirit 
to speak the word there. This indeed seemed 
strange. 

Paul — Then we thought to turn our faces east- 
ward or northeastward. There was Bithynia, 



The Conquest of a Continent 



which seemed a most inviting field. And then 
farther to the east lay the great lands of China 
and India with their teeming millions sorely 
in need of this Gospel we are preaching. 

Silas — But again the Spirit of our Master suf- 
fered us not to go thither. 

Titnothy — Since we could go neither east nor 
west and had come from the south, there was 
only one course left to us and that was north. 
And so our journey has brought us here to this 
historic old city of Troas. I had thought, 
Brother Paul, that ere this you may have found 
out God's will for our future travels. 

Paul — I have, and in a most unusual way. I 
know now what our course shall be. It was 
only yesterday that I was suffering intense 
pain from this bodily affliction — this thorn 
in the flesh — which it is not the Father's will 
to remove. The doctor who came to see me is 
named Luke. After he had prescribed for me 
and I got to feeling better., we fell into conver- 
sation. He seemed anxious to know more about 
me and our party. I told him that we were 
missionaries, sent forth on the greatest errand 
ever entrusted to men. I told him we were 
neither nomads of the desert, salesmen of busi- 
ness, nor governmental officials, but humble 
servants of the Most High God who had been 
commissioned to preach the Gospel of his Son, 
Jesus Christ. 
(Silas and Timothy reg-ister great interest.) 

S:?7as— What did he say? 

Paul — Imagine my great surprise when this man 
told me he was a believer in Jehovah. He said 
that he had been a pagan, but having attended 
a synagogue of our Jewish people, he had been 
led to repudiate the pagan deities whom he had 
once worshipped and had accepted Jehovah as 
the one true God. And then he asked to know 
more about Jesus, whom I had mentioned. Well, 
though I was sick and did not feel much like 
talking, I did not miss my opportunity of pre- 
senting the claims of Christ. 



The Conquest of a Continent 



Tiviothy — Isn't it wonderful how these opportuni- 
ties open to us to present the claims of our 
Lord? 

Silas — Indeed it is. Every day the chance comes. 
Sometimes to one, sometimes to many. 

Paul — Well, as I told him our story, I saw his 
face light up with a light never seen on land 
nor sea. He said that all his life he had been 
waiting for just this message. I can never 
forget the way he looked me straight in the 
eye and said, "Stranger, I came to prescribe 
for jou, but you have prescribed for me. I not 
only accept this Christ of whom you speak as 
my' personal Saviour and request baptism in 
his name, but I would gladly help in carrying 
this message to others." 

Timothy — When, then, will he be baptized. 

Paid — I told him that you could baptize him this 
afternoon. 

Timothy — It will be a very great pleasure to do so. 

Silas — And so the number of baptized believers 
grows. 

(Knock. Timothy admits Luke.) 

Paul — Welcome, beloved physician, (Introduces 
Timothy and Silas.) This is my son in the 
Gospel, Timothy. This is my co-worker, Silas. 

Luke — Most happy, indeed, to meet you both. 

Silas and Timothy — We are greatly honored. (All 
bow quite low.) 

Paul — Have a seat. Dr. Luke. I was just telling 
my friends here of the incidents of yesterday 
when you knocked. 

Luke — I hope you have told them of my accept- 
ance of Christ, my eagerness to be baptized, and 
my desire to accompany you on your labors. 

Paul — I had just gotten that far when you came 
in. 

Luke — Then you did not tell them of my ambi- 
tions for us to preach the Gospel in Europe? 

Paul — No. I was just coming to that point in 
my story. 

Luke — I should not presume to dictate, nor 
scarcely suggest, but I should like to see you go 



The Conquest of a Continent 



to Philippi. There is no synagogue, but some 
women meet on a river's bank for prater each 
day. 

Silas — But should we not go where there is a 
synagogue, for a synagogue furnishes us an 
audience? It makes the opportunity. 

Paul — But what we seek is a willing hearer, rath- 
er than a waiting audience. In the island of 
Cyprus we found Serg"ius Paulus, the govern- 
or of the island, who became a Christian ; here 
in Troas, Dr. Luke. However, my newly found 
friend's appeal did not yesterday impress me. 
But last nip'ht I had a vision. How very vivid 
it was ! I saw a man of Macedonia standing 
and beseeching us, a man v/ho did not look un- 
like you. Dr. Luke. This was what he was 
saying: "Come over into Macedonia and help 
us." And so I have concluded that God has 
called us to preach the Gospel to Europe. 

Silas — Truly this was an oracle of God. We can 
ail agree with your conclusion. 

Timothy — Since we now know God has called us 
to preach the Gospel in Europe, I shall find out 
this afternoon when we can secure passage in a 
ship sailing for Neapolis. 

Luke — I should like to call your attention to some 
of the historic facts of this city in which we 
row sojourn. About a thousand years ago, the 
Trojan war was fought in and around this 
place. Here Greek and Trojan fought for su- 
premacy. Paris, king of Troy at that time, 
having abused the hospitality of Menelaus, the 
Spartan king, whom he visited, by carrying off 
his beautiful wife, Helen, brought on that long 
war which the great poet, Homer, has immor- 
talized in his Iliad. 

Silas — I have heard of that war. If the Greeks 
would go to war over a lost woman, surely the 
church should be desperately in earnest over 
lost souls. 

Paul — Right you are, Silas. And there is only 
one way to save men and women, and that is by 
the Gospel which we preach. It is the only 
power unto salvation. 



The Conquest of a Continent 



Luke — There occurred here also another very 
j]:reat historic event about 500 years a^o. 
Xerxes, the Persian monarch, marched 1,800 000 
men into this territory on his way to conquer 
Greece. Here he had built a g-reat and high 
throne from which he viewed the land, the sea 
and his immense army. The monarch, as he 
looked upon the pageant that passed before him, 
remarked that in a few years not a man of 
that immense host would iDe alive. It is said, 
"As the lesson of mortality passed over him, 
he gave way to tears." Well, you doubtless 
remember the results of that invasion of Eu- 
rope — Thermopalae, Salamis, Mycale, a scat- 
tered and defeated army, a wiser and sadder 
king. 

Timothy — Paul, you sit on no throne, but you are 
greater than Xerxes. 

Silas — And you with three missionaries shall 
mean more to Europe than Xerxes and his 
millions of men. It's Bible, not battalions, love 
not legions, missionaries and not military lead- 
ers, preaching not the power of autocracy and 
wealth, which must conquer Europe. 

Luke — I feel most happy to be associated with 
you men in this conquest of a continent. My 
heart is aflame with this message of salvation. 
I am anxious to give it to everyone who will 
receive it. And I have not onlv a desire to be 
a personal evangelist, telling it to individuals 
and groups to whom I may be privileged to 
preach; I have another ambition. I should like 
to say modestly that I have had unusual and 
rare educational advantages for one of our 
time. Few if any of my fellowmen have had 
better. Since Christ came into my heart on yes- 
terday, I now have a greater ambition than to 
practice medicine. It is in my heart to write 
the life of this Jesus who has saved me, and 
to give to future posterity the early history 
of his church. 

Paul — These are most worthy ambitions. You 
shall realize them. I am sure; and -r^iy thz 
Holy Spirit guide you to write infallibly the 



The Conquest of a Continent 



life of our Lord and the acts of his apostles. 
(Rises.) Let us, then, go forth girded with 
divine strength, with no weapon except the 
truth of God, no armor except the panoply of 
salvation, to the conquest of a continent, which 
neither Trojans nor Persians could subdue. We 
go not to bring death, but life — life abundant, 
life eternal. 

(CURTAIN.) 



ACT II — The Gospel Preached in Europe 

Time — Few days following last act 

Place — Beside River Gaggitas. Stage suggestive of out 

of doors 

PROLOGUE: Acts 16:11-15 

(Lydia and several women. Women are kneeling- 
as in praver. They arise. Sing- "Nearer My God 
to Thee." ) 

Lydia — For several months we have gathered here 
by this river's bank each Sabbath day for the 
study of the Hebrew Scriptures and for pray- 
er. We are all believers in the great God, 
Jehovah, who made the heavens and the earth. 
Some of us belong to the Jewish race, some 
are Gentiles. You Gentile women have turned 
from the worship of Greek and Roman deities 
to worship Jehovah, You once honored Jupiter, 
Mercury, Mars, Minerva, Venus. Now we 
know that these are only names of deities who 
have no real existence. As we have studied 
together the Hebrew prophets, we have learned 
that Jehovah would send his son into the world, 
the real incarnation of the one true and living 
God. Has he come? We do not know. We 
hope he has. We have been praying much these 
past weeks that if he should come in our day, 
we might hear about him. 

(Enter Luke, Silas, Timothy and Paul. Women 
register fear.) 

Luke — We humbly beg your pardon, ladies, for 
this apparent intrusion, which we are quite 
sure you will grant when once you have learned 



The Conquest of a Continent 



our mission. We understood that there was a 
place of prayer out here by the river's bank, 
and we, no doubt, have found the place to which 
we have been directed. Will you be kind 
enough to tell us if we are right? 

Lydia — Yes, gentlemen, this is a place of prayer. 
We can readily see that you are not officers 
of the law, and may, therefore, hope that you 
have not come to disturb the quietude of our 
devotions. 

L2(ke — We come not to disturb you, but to help 
you in your devotions. Introductions are in 
order. I, myself, am named Luke, until re- 
cently a physician by profession. These, my 
friends, are Paul, Silas, Timothy, missionaries 
of the great Jehovah whom you worship. 

(All bow.) 

Silas — We come to bring you good tidings. Our 
message is the most important that this world 
has ever heard. With your permission our 
friend, Paul, our chief speaker, would like to 
address you. 

Lydia (To the women) — What say you? Shall 
we hear him? 

Women — Let us hear him. 

Paul — I count myself most happy in this privilege 
of speaking to you. I naturally infer that you 
are familiar with the prophecies of Hebrew 
Scriptures, since you are worshippers of Je- 
hovah. If so, you are aware that God made 
promise long ago that he would send his Son 
into the world to be its Redeemer and King. 
Our mission is to say that the Christ has come. 
Jesus of Nazareth was that Christ. In his per- 
son he fulfills all the prophecies concerning the 
Messiah. He was born of a virgin, born in 
Bethlehem. He healed the sick, cast out de- 
mons, raised the dead, spoke as no man ever 
spoke, and in accordance with Scripture, died 
upon the cross for the world's redemption. But 
death could not claim him, and he came forth 
from the portals of the tomb in that same 
body in which he had been buried. For 40 day? 
he was seen by his disciples and spoke unto 



The Conquest of a Continent 



them things concerning the Kingdom of God. 
Then he ascended to Heaven and sat down at 
the right hand of the Majesty on High, intend- 
ing in due time to return to this earth over 
which it is his right to rule. Until the day 
of his second advent, he has commissioned all 
who would become his followers to preach his 
Gospel. In him we are saved, without him we 
must perish. He offers pardon, peace, the gift 
of the Holy Spirit, eternal life and resurrec- | 
tion /glory. jj 

Lyd'a — These are strange but very glad words. ! 
For months we have been praying God to send 
us this knowledge which you bring. These : 
words sound too good to be true, 

Timothy — But they are true. Ladies, we assure ^ 
you they are, most true. (Addressing the 
men.) We now can see why we were com- 
pelled to go north instead of west or east; why v 
we should be led into Europe and not into 
Asia and the far east. It was the prayers of ! 
these good women that brought us here. In 
response to the appeal made at Heaven's s 
throne by these women, God sent us across a i 
continent and led us here. 

Men — Truly God answers prayer. 

Lydia — What must we do to become participants 
in this salvation of which you speak? 

Paul — The way is plain. It is one way for all. 
AD. who would be saved must accept the Sa- 
viour whom God has provided. 

Lydia — What must we do to accept Him? 

Paul — Believe in Him. Forsake sin, that is re- 
pent; confess His name; and surrender your- 
self to Him in the baptismal burial. 

Lydia — Then I accept Him and crave to obey 
Him in baptism. 

All — We all accept Him. 

Timothy — The river is near and the ordinance of 
baptism may be attended to without delay. 

Lydia — In an hour we shall meet you at the fords 
of the stream, prepared for our baptismal dedi- 
cation. 

t CURTAIN.) 



The Conquest of a Continent 



ACT III — Spiritualism versus Christianity 

Time— One month later 
Place— Philippi. Home of Lydia. Drawing room suggestive 



of luxury 
PROLOGUE: Acts 16:16-24 



Timothy — Think you, companions, that we are 
most fortunate in being- entertained in such a 
comfortable home during our sojourn in Phil- 
ippi? 

Paul — Indeed we are. But such was the promise 
of the Christ. When here on earth he said, 
"Whosoever shall leave house or brethren or 
sisters or mother or father or children or lands 
fo-* my sake and the Gospel's sake, shall re- 
ceive an hundredfold now in this time and in 
the age to come, eternal life." 

Timothy — Did he not say that with these good 
things we would also receive persecutions? 

Paul — Yes, He added that word. We have found 
hospitable homes and many friends in Christ 
in every city to which we have gone and in 
most every city we have also been persecuted, 
and who can tell that before we leave Philippi 
some persecution may befall us here? 

Timothy — We shall hope to escape these evil 
things here. 

(Lvdia, behind scenes, sings, "My Jesus I Love 
Thee.") 

Silas — We can forget our persecution when souls 
like Lydia's awake to new life. This woman 
is a great business woman. Her revenue from 
purple cloth amounts to a large sum each year. 
But now since she has found Christ, she tells 
me that she expects to make larg'e outlays 
of the money to extend the kingdom. She 
said to me the other day.. "Silas, I wish I could 
preach like Paul, for I feel like we all should 
be telling ' this salvation story ; but since I 
cannot preach, I can support with my money 
those who do." I told her she would share in 
the reward, for we all have not the same talents. 



10 The Conquest of a Continent 

Luke — Yes, and her interest is not limited to the 
giving of money. She has been instrumental in 
leading every one of her servants, her entire 
household, to accept Christ. 

Paid — Lydia has become an example of what 
every Christian should be. The number of 
Christians should grow in geometrical propor- 
tion. If everyone should win those in their own 
homes, then business associates, then friends 
and strangers, winning them one by one, our 
Gospel message would soon conquer Europe and 
the world. That was what our Lord intended 
and expects. Every Christian saved should 
become a soul saver. It is not group preaching, 
speaking to multitudes, which will save the 
earth's teeming millions, but personal evangel- 
ism. Converts must represent hand picked 
fruit. 

Tiinothy — Paul, have you noticed this heathen 
girl which has been following us day after 
day and saying, "These men are the servants 
of the Most High God who proclaim unto you 
the way of salvation"? 

Paul — Certainly I have noticed her. My sym- 
pathy has gone out to her. Satan has bound 
this dear child. Her mediumistic powers have 
been commercialized by unscrupulous men, to 
whom she brings much gain by her sooth-say- 
ing. 

L7ike — Is there no way by which we can help her? 

Paul — Certainly. We can cast out the demon, for 
our Lord has given us power over these un- 
clean spirits. But if we were to cast out the 
spirit, the probabilities are that we would be 
cast into prison, for her masters are rich and 
powerful and have great influence with the 
authorities. 

(Note: The following- paragraphs within 
the brackets may or may not be used ac- 
cording to local conditions. It is an answer 
to spiritualism. Some churches may want 
to use it and others may not. It is not 
necessary for the continuity of the play.) 

[Silas — I understand that in the evenings this 
girl holds seances, claims to tell fortunes, lo- 



The Conquest of a Continent 



cate lost articles and hold communications with 
the dead.] 
[Paul — There is no doubt but that she possesses 
supernormal power, but it is not from God. It 
is from Satan. As for communicating with 
the dead, that is an absolute impossibility. This 
demon which has gotten possession of her mind 
and body impersonates those who have died. 
It speaks in their name. For instance, a moth- 
er loses a son. She is anxious to have some 
word from him. She hears that this girl is 
able to establish communication between her 
and her son. She atends a seance. The demon 
speaks through the girl and says, "I am your 
son, John." The mother believes it. The de- 
mon then proceeds to give a most unsatisfac- 
tory message, but the mother goes away think- 
ing that she has talked with the spirit of her 
son. The demons have no intelligible message. 
They "chirp and mutter." Their talk is mere 
twaddle and worst of all it is lies, base lies, 
the devil's blackest lies.] 

[Luke — Isn't it sad that people should be so de- 
ceived?] 

[Paul — It is. But Satan will resort to any meth- 
od to destroy souls. He takes advantage of sad 
hearts, hearts in the throes of bereavement. He 
knows the anxiety of men and women to know 
the state of the dead and thus deceives them. 
We who have been taught by the great Teacher, 
God's Son, the only one who could tell us any- 
thing about the other world, know the truth. 
The remainder of the world is in darkness. 
How important and imperative, then, is our 
mission.] 

[Luke — Would you mind telling me just what the 
great Teacher taught about the state of the 
dead? Remember, I am a young Christian and 
have not learned everything.] 

[Paul — I take pleasure in doing so. I think I 
can make it very plain to you. There are just 
two places to which people can go at death. 
These place He called Heaven and Hades. He, 



The Conquest of a Continent 



Himself, is now in Heaven. It is the Father's 
house of many mansions. He spoke much of 
this place in the days of his flesh. It to him 
was a place as real and tangible as this earth. 
Into it just two classes of people go — children 
and Christians. Concerning children he said, 
"Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." A 
Christian is one whom Christ has forgiven 
and who is trying to live in accordance with 
His will. While sin is upon the human soul, 
it cannot enter the father's presence and into 
His home. But He died upon the cross that 
the sinful soul might be cleansed. And now 
the way into the holy place, that is Heaven, 
has been opened by the blood of Jesus. That 
was the significance of the rending of the 
veil in the temple when He died. Hence, He 
said, "No one can come unto the Father ex- 
cept by me." and "I am the way and the truth 
and the life."] 

{Luke — But what of Hades? Paganism throws 
no light on the state of the dead. You have 
seen on our cemeteries such mottoes as "Death 
is an endless sleep," and "all hope abandon who 
enter here."] 

{Pa7d — He taught Hades was the place of ail the 
discarnate spirits of men and women whose 
sins were unforgiven. The spirit disembodied 
is the same spirit as it is in the body. It pos- 
sesses reason, memory, rationality, feeling, in- 
terest — all the powers of personality and indi- 
viduality as in the flesh. When one dies he 
carries everything he is in this life either in 
Heaven or Hades except his body and his prop- 
perty. But Heaven is a palace, Hades is a 
prison. The one "the house of many man- 
sions"; the other the place of "spirits in 
prison." And from both places there is 
no escape until the resurrection day, when the 
spirits of men shall be reinvested with bodies. 
How utterly preposterous it is, therefore, for 
these spiritualists and mediums to claim to be 
talking with the dead.] 



The Conquest of a Continent 



[Luke — But we do not find many people afflicted 
like this poor girl, do we?] 

[Paul — No. There are not many now; but the 
Holy Spirit says that in the last days, just 
previous to our Lord's return to earth there 
will be many all over the world, even good and 
wise people, because they shall not know God's 
revelation who will give heed to "seducing spir- 
its and doctrines of demons."] 

Silas — My suggestion is that regardless of con- 
sequences we heal this unhappy, Satan bound 
child. 

Paul — I think we should, not only for her sake 
but also for our own sakes. We do not want 
recognition from the emissaries of Satan. Our 
Lord, Himself, would have no such recogni- 
tion, and when here on earth the demons cried, 
"We know who Thou art, Thou Son of God," he 
cast them out. If this girl follows us tomorrow, 
and makes that wierd cry which she has been 
accustomed to make, in His great name we 
shall cast it out. It may mean flogging, prison, 
even death, but we shall demonstrate that the 
Son of Light is here and that the prince of 
darkness is no match for him. 

(CURTAIN.) 



ACT IV— Truth Vindicated 

Time — Next morning, 4 A. M. 
Place — Jailer's house. Drawing room 

PROLOGUE: Acts 16:25-40 



(There may be two scenes to Act IV. Scene I 
would be laid in lowest dungeon at midnight. Paul 
an'l Silas sit with backs to audience, their shirts 
bloody — dyed red — their feet fast in stocks. Stage 
dimly lighted. They bow their heads in prayer and 
sing a stanza of "My Faith Looks Up to Thee." 
At the conclusion of this stanza the earthquake 
takes place. This can be done by sounding bass 
notes on piano back of stage, rattling a strip of 
sheet metal, and shooting off two or three cart- 



The Conquest of a Continent 



ridg-es of flash-light powder. The light goes out 
at the time. After last flash of light jailer at 
back of stage shrieks because he thinks his pris- 
oners have escaped. Paul cries out, "Do thy self 
no harm for we are all here'' Jailer calls for light, 
comes in and trembling falls down before Paul and 
Silas. Paul says, "Arise. Be of good cheer. The 
danger is past." Jailor says, "Let me conduct you 
to my own house." Leads them out. Curtain. 
Then scene 2 as follows:) 

Silas — Do you feel more comfortable since the 
jailer has washed your stripes? 

Paul — Yes, quite a great deal. Silas, this has 
been a memorable night. As the sun fell to 
rest ten hours ago, we were receiving the worst 
flogging men ever received. 

Silas — And for no other reason than that you re- 
leased that poor bound girl, and struck from 
her clouded mind and tired body the shackles 
of Satan. 

Paul — It was all on account of the cupidity of 
men. The girl was bound by a demon, but her 
masters were bound by money. What sin is 
worse than covetousness? It enslaves the soul 
strangles the highest aspirations and persecutes 
with relentless fury the innocent persons who 
cross its path. God pity the victims of money- 
madness. God says of this sin that it belongs 
to the same class of sins as witchcraft, idolatry, 
theft and immorality. It is the love of money 
and the lust of the flesh which is to bring the 
wrath of God in the last day upon the sons of 
disobedience. 

Silas — Yes, it was this sin of mammon-worship 
that flogged us, threw us into the darkest pit 
of the Philippian jail and put our feet fast in 
the stocks. 

Paul — But while our bodies were bound, our spir- 
its were free. 

"Stone walls do not a prison make. 

Nor iron bars a cage. 
Minds that are innocent and quiet, 
Take these for a hermitage." 

Silas — Christ had made us free men; we could 
sing and pray in prison. What must those 
prisoners have thought as they heard the hymns 



The Conquest of a Continent 



of the church coming from the lowest dungeon 
at the midnight hour from men whose backs 
were bleeding and whose bones were breaking? 

Paul — They must have known that there is some- 
thing in our lives that is not in theirs — The dif- 
ference is Christ. 

Silas — But not only were the prisoners listening. 
Someone else was listening. They heard us 
sing, but God heard us pray. Is it any wonder 
that the earth rocked, and the prison doors 
flew open. He who came to proclaim release 
to the captives, by His earthquake struck off us 
01^ r shackles, even as He released that demon 
bound child on yesterday. 

Paul — A night can mean much to a human soul. 
Ten hours ago the jailer was a pagan, now he 
is a Christian. 

Si^as — Yes, you saved him not only from suicide, 
but from perdition. I seem to hear now his 
shrieks in the darkness as he was about to 
fall upon his sword, and then your clear voice 
rang out in the blackness of the night, "Do 
thyself no harm for we are all here." 

Paul — And when he brought us into his house, 
he asked that question which every sin-con- 
victed soul must always ask, "What must I do 
to be saved?" 

Silas — And through the ages your answer will 
be the answer which shall be given to sin laden 
men and women, "Believe on the Lord Jesus 
and thou shalt be saved." 

Paul — Yes, Silas, there is no other name by which 
poor, sinful men are to be saved. 

Silas — That was a great sermon you preached 
to-night, Paul. It must have been one o'clock 
this morning when the jailer gathered his 
household here to listen to the message of sal- 
vation. You forgot the hurt on your back. You 
did not seem to remember that the blood had 
matted your shirt. No time in your life have 
you so preached Jesus. I can never forget that 
sermon. And when you spoke of confessing 
Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, 



The Conquest of a Continent 



repenting of sin and the baptismal burial, I 
saw a new light come into every face. I knew 
a spiritual revolution was taking place in 
every heart. 

Paul — I had not quite concluded when the jailer 
spoke up and said, "Let us be baptized this 
very night." This is the only time we have 
ever baptized anyone between one and two 
o'clock in the morning. 

Silas — And such a supper after that baptism ! Not 
having had anything to eat since yesterday at 
noon, I was prepared for it and did justice to 
it. (He goes to window, looks out.) Day is 
breaking. Such a night! Yet it is worth the 
suffering, a score of souls have been saved. 
(Jailer enters.) 

Jailer — The magistrates have sent to let you go; 
now, therefore, go in peace. 

Paid — Not so. Brother Jailer. They have beaten 
us publicly in the market place, uncondemned, 
we had no trial and we are men who hold 
Roman citizenship. Then they threw us into 
prison. Do they now thrust us out privily? 
Not so. But let them come themselves and 
bring us out. 

Jailer (In great astonishment) — You, Roman 
citizens? I will, with all dispatch, bring these 
words to the magistrates. And you may count 
on me to help spread this Gospel for which you 
have suffered this night. 

Paul — Again we shall be free. But whether free 
ou bound, salvation to lost souls is our mission. 

(CURTAIN.) 

(The effectiveness of this play will be enhanced 
if each player will learn perfectly his lines, and be 
able to g-ive them in a natural, easy, conversational 
style. It is advisable that several practices be 
held before the play is produced for tlie public. 
The costumes are simple, as the long- tunic was 
worn by men. Bath robes would answer the pur- 
pose. Drapes of any color may be worn by women. 
Sandals or slippers should be worn, turbans or 
head bands. See Bible pictures for sug-g-estions.) 



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